Gable top container



April 13, 1965 1... s. TOBIAS ETAL 3,178,089

GABLE TOP CONTAINER Filed Oct. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY I April 1965s. TOBIAS ETAL 3,173,089

GABLE TOP CONTAINER Filed Oct. 18, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent 3,178,089 GABLE TOP CONTAINER Lawrence S. Tobias, Valley Stream,N.Y., and Robert P.

Anuick, Rutherford, N.J., assignors to international Paper Company, NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Get. 18, 1962, Ser. No.231,532 2 Claims. (til. Mil-17) This application is acontinuation-in-part of co-pending application Serial No. 201,899, filedJune 12, 1962.

The present invention relates to pour spouts for containers. Moreparticularly, it relates to a pour spout for a plastic-coated gabletopped overlap container for fluids including milk and other beverages.

Broadly, overlap containers made from paperboard or the like arecircular or square in their lateral cross section and, in the lattercase, they are formed from a blank scored or given foldlines whichdefine four, rectangular larger panels and a fifth, smaller panelthereon. Each of the four larger panels adjoins at least one of theothers along one of its longer sides as defined by a score or a foldlineand it, when the blank is formed into the container, constitutes one ofthe normally vertically disposed side walls of the container. The fifth,smaller panel or side seam flap extends from the fourth, larger panelalong the longer side thereof not connected by a score or foldline tothe third, larger panel. A score or foldline separates the fourth andfifth panels. Then, in the finished, erect container, the outside of theside seam flap and that area of the first panel adjacent to its edge arebonded together with the aid of glue or some other adhesive. It is thelapping of the inside of such first panel over the outside of the fifthpanel, usually to the locus of the foldline between the fourth and fifthpanels, which gives these containers their name.

Questions of structural and material strength arise with all disposablecontainers made of paperboard or the like, particularly when the goodssought to be packaged are wholly or partially liquid, since any rupture,break or delarnination in the structure, whether caused by having unduestresses designed into the container or placed upon the container andthe blank therefor during the converting operation or normal handling,or inherent penetrability in the material leads to a loss of the goods.Heretofore, answers to these questions have been sought in the techniqueof basic stock coating. It has been suggested to coat the finishedcontainers with various agents such as waxes by dipping them into tanksthereof and it has been sug ested to precoat the stock before thecontainers are formed therefrom with, for example, polyethylene.However, the use of such coatings has not been found to answer thequestions fully in a number of critical areas. Areas is used advisedlyhere, since one problem not solved by the coating technique is preciselyin the area of the overlap containers score or foldlines and the areaofits side seam. A solution of this problem is supplied by co-pendingapplication Serial No. 61,386, filed October 11, 1960, now Patent No.3,137,436. Another problem not solved by, and, indeed, largely createdby, the coating technique is in the area of an ultimately free edgeprovided for in many overlap containers, e.g., those bearing thePure-Pale" trademark of Ex-Cell-O Corporation. This problem involves,broadly, the delamination of the edge clue to its undesirable, butheretofore unremedied, bonding to the container coating and theconsequent debilitation of the edge structure and destruction or" itsnormally clean and attractive appearance. Co-pending application SerialNo. 201,899, filed June 12, 1962, overcomes this problem and affordsother advantages. Illustrative of the type of problem met and conqueredis one which arises in the manufacture of gable topped overlapcontainers having integral pour spouts of the general type shown inexpired U.S. Pat. No. 2,193,119, when a paperboard stock is used whichhas laminated thereto, usually by means of the extrusion method, a thinfilm of a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene for purposes ofprotective coating. It occurs because heat is used to achieve the sealedclosure of the gable top and such heat can have the deleterious sideeffect of causing the pour spout edge to be bonded to the thermoplasticcoating of the container. Such bonding, which is not necessary to afforda good container closure, leads to a delamination when the container isopened and the delarnination spoils the pourability of the spout and theattractiveness of the container.

The overlap container blanks here in question have the generalconfiguration of those shown, for instance, in expired U.S. Patent Nos.2,218,670 and 2,329,797 and include four upper end closure panelsconnected along and by means of lateral score or foldlines to the fourlarger panels of the blank hereinbefore discussed. Two of such endclosure panels which can be connected to the first and third larger,side panels of the container blank often have only one or moreadditional lateral score and foldlines and, in the finished or erectedcontainer, form the roof surfaces of the gable top therefor. The othertwo end closure panels which can be connected to the second and fourthlarger, side panels of the container blank have, for example, a lateral,a vertical, and two convergingly diagonal score or foldlines definingseveral triangles on such end closure panels and, in the completedcontainer, form the gable surfaces of the gable top therefor. Upon theerection of the containers from the blanks as described, triangularportions of the triangulated end closure panels are brought into anabutting relation with inside portions of the roof surface end closurepanels. Then, in the hands of the containers user, such triangularportions of one of the triangulated end closure panels are brought outof the abutting relation with some portions of the root surface endclosure panels and beyond to form a pour spout, the edge of which wasand is the outer lip of such triangulated end closure panel of thecontainer blank.

However, it often occurs that, because of misplaced pressure by the oneopening the container, stilfness of the container material, imperfectscore or foldlines, or the like, the triangular portions are slow toseparate from contact with the inside portions of the roof surface endclosurc panels or the edge seems to be locked in its closed containerposition, and does not readily pop out from under such roof surfaces toform the pour spout. The result is that one opening the container mayhave to insert his finger into the container along the edge to get thespout and may thereby contaminate the contents of the container and theedge.

Now, it has been found that, by a surprisingly simple modification ofthe blanks for gable topped overlap containers of this type, pour spoutswhich are unexpectedly strong and rigid, clean looking, and not subjectto undesirable opening lag or unsanitary handling in either theconversion operation or the container filling operation can be achieved.Such modification consists of forming by conventional means a pair ofshort scores or foldlines in one or both of the gable surface ortriangulated end closure panels and vertically across a part of itduring the die cutting of the blank. Preferably, such scores aredisposed generally parallel to and on either side of the vertical scoreor foldline of such panel and, for example, a distance of from about 7therefrom. Such measurement, of course, depends to some extent on thesize of the container involved. When used with the improvement describedand claimed in co-pending Serial No. 201,899, filed June 12, 1962, thepair of scores preferably runs between the slit described therein andthe diagonal scores of the panel in question. There, they afford theconsumer or the user of the containers contents a spout having anassured and relatively lasting operability an one theretofore untouchedby human hands.

It has also been found that the present invention has, for example,particular applicability in the milk and fruit drink industry and inconnection with gable topped overlap containers like those described andshown in U.S. Patent No. 2,750,095, but polyethylene-coated, which arefilled and closed at high speeds. However, its utility is notexclusively limited to such applications.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should behad to the attached sheet of drawings in which-- FIGURE 1 shows a planview of a blank for a gable topped overlap container modified inaccordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 shows a sectional isometric view of the upper end of the closedcontainer formed from the blank of FIGURE 1;

' FIGURE 3 shows an isometric view of the upper end of theopened-for-pouring container formed from the blank of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7 show sections of plan views of diiferent blanksfor gable topped overlap containers modified in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIGURE 8 shows an isometric view of the upper end of a partially openedcontainer formed from the blank of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 shows a plan view. of the upper end of the container-of FIGURE8;

FIGURE 10 shows an isometric view of the upper end of the container ofFIGURE 8 at the instant when its pour spout takes shape; and

FIGURE 11 shows a plan view of the upper end of the container of FIGURE10.

The usual panels of a rectangularly cross-sectioned overlap containerblank made from polyethylene-coated paperboard stock are partially shownin FIGURE 1 and identified by numerals I, II, III, IV, and V. The upperend closure panels of the gable top of the container to be made from theblank are numbers 11, 12, 13, and 14 and 11 and 13 are shown with theconventional lateral, vertical, and diagonal scores or foldlines 21 to28 and with the vertical scores or foldlines 40 and 41 which arecontemplated by the present invention. Areas A and B thereon are printedwith one of the commercially available adhesive m-aterials such asGeneral Electric Silicone No. 584076, Dow Corning Syloff No. 23, andInternational Printing Ink Co. Adhesive No. 42440.'

As shown in FIGURE 2, panel 13 is folded in between panels 12 and 14,below panel extension 15, in the erection, filling and closing of thecontainer formed from the blank of FIGURE 1. Triangular portions 13a and13b are, at this time, folded toward each other over triangularportions, 130 and so that their insides at least approach the insides ofpanels 12 and 14. The lip 13d of panel 13 actually abuts panels 12 and14 and, when heat is applied assistance of scores 40 and 41, thecontainer along the line of slit score 30, which is never involved insuch plowing action, to form very readily a previously unhandled and,therefore, more sanitary, as well as firm and less susceptible towetting, pour spout. Clearly, foldable portions 13a and 13c can also beso positioned to vary the size of the pour spout opening or. to re-closeit.

FIGURES 4 to 6 depict various other embodiments of the scores 40 and 41of the present invention in one type of container panel in which theycan'be utilized. FIG- URE 7 shows them in another type of containerpanel in which they can be used. V

The operation of the present invention is further seen in FIGURES 8 to11. With the application of pressure against triangular portions 13aand13c in the closed container (as shown in FIGURE 2), they are broughtinto a single line or plane as suggested by FIGURES 8 and 9 or a littlebeyond as suggested by FIGURES 10 and 11. When the container iswax-coated, ratherthan thermoplastic-coated, and closed with the aid ofa staple or the like, rather than heat-sealed, the pressure has beenfound in some circumstances to be sufficient to precipitate atoggle-like action, dependent upon the inherent stiffness of thepaperboard container stock and the juxtaposition (suggested in FIGURES 9and 11) of the several container gable top panel and foldline elements,which forces an outward motion of portions 13a, 13b, and 13c of panel 13and the formation of the desired pour spout. See US. Patent 2,750,095.

However, particularly when the container is thermo- I plastic-coated andits lip 13d is plowed into the hot thermoplastic when the containergable top is being heatsealed shut, the resultant bond has been found tobe so sturdy'that it can defeat the aforementioned toggle-like actionunless means such as those comprehended by the present invention areincluded. How such means figure in overcoming this problem is, perhaps,explained by remembering that, for every action by thumb-pressure or thelike on portions 13a and 13c, there is necessarily an equalcounter-action operating in the opposite direction and that, at sometime during the thumb-directed movement of portions 13:: and 130 ofpanel 13, the counterforce will take a path through, for instance, panelextension 15 and into the plane of foldline 40. When this happens, itseems eminently reasonable that the result will be an outward bucklingof panel 13 along foldline 40 which tends to whip that section of panel13 between foldlines 40 and 41 and including foldlineze outwardly,breaking the heat-sealed bond involving lip 13d. But, in any event andwhatever the explanation, the advantageous effect of including foldlines40 and 41 in the container are remarkable.

to seal the entire closure of the thermoplastic coated conmore clearlyin FIGURE 3 and once the container is opened for pouring.

As shown in FIGURE 3, strip 31, which lies between lip 13d and slit 30in the blank, remains heat sealed and aflixed to the insides of panels12 and 14, particularly as a result of the aforementioned plowing actionand the placement of the adhesive areas; when foldable triangularportions 13a and 1312 are so actuated as to open, with the What isclaimed is:

1. A thermoplastic-coatedpaperboard blank for gable topped four sidedoverlap containers for fluids having, in and as components of the gabletop structure gable surface end closure panels with outer lips whereontriangles are defined by means of foldlines, means defining a pair ofvertically disposed parallel scores beginning at said foldlinescentrally in at least one of the gable surface end closure panels, meansdefining a single continuous slit limited in its length to lie solely inat least one of the gable surface end closure panels near the outer lipthereof and to which means the vertically disposed parallel score linesextend from the foldlines, and roof surface end closure panels.

2. A thermoplastic-coated paperboard gable topped, four sided, overlapcontainer for fluids having, in and as components of the gable topstructure, gable surface end closure panels with outer lips whereontriangles are defined by means of foldlines, means defining a pair ofvertically disposed parallel scores beginning at said foldlinescentrally in at least one of the gable surface end closure panels, meansdefining a single continuous slit limited in its length to lie solely inat least one of the gable surface 5 9 s end closure panels near theouter lip thereof and to which References Cited by the Applicant meansthe vertically disposed parallel score lines extend UNITED STATESPATENTS from the foldlines, and roof surface end closure panels.

2,079,875 5/37 Reiter.

References Cited by the Examiner 2,172,930 9 3611861.

5 H 2,299,461 10/42 Clanon. UNITED STAlEa PATENTS 2,360,439 10/44 Monme2,321,139 6/43 Gruger 22917 2,687,840 8/54 Innes. 2,329,797 9/43 Strack.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

225 010 3 59 Australia. GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

1. A THERMOPLASTIC-COATED PAPERBOARD BLANK FOR GABLE TOPPED FOUR SIDEDOVERLAP CONTAINERS FOR FLUIDS HAVING, IN AND AS COMPONENTS OF THE GABLETOP STRUCTURE GABLE SURFACE END CLOSURE PANELS WITH OUTER LIPS WHEREONTRIANGLES ARE DEFINED BY MEANS OF FOLDLINES, MEANS DEFINING A PAIR OFVERTICALLY DISPOSED PARALLEL SCORES BEGINING AT SAID FOLDLINES CENTRALLYIN AT LEAST ONE OF THE GABLE SURFACE END CLOSURE PANELS, MEANS DEFININGA SINGLE CONTINUOUS SLIT LIMITED IN ITS LENGTH TO LIE SOLELY IN AT LEASTONE OF THE GABLE SURFACE END CLOSURE PANELS NEAR THE OUTER LIP THEREOFAND TO WHICH MEANS THE VERTICALLY DISPOSED PARALLEL SCORE LINES EXTENDFROM THE FOLDLINES, AND ROOF SURFACE END LOSURE PANELS.